Overheard. A Non-Shooter.

[AccelR8]

I'm inspired to relate this story by a recent thread or two. This happened a couple of years ago.

We know this lady who is now 90-some years old. She was the wife of a farmer and also a public school teacher. Her husband had died years before, and actually had quit farming several years before that. The farm land was leased out to other farmers. She still lives in the farm house which is on the corner of two country roads.

Across the road on one of the roads, someone had bought the corner lot and built a house there, maybe in the 1950s or there about. The house recently sold and an older-middle aged guy moved in. Turns out he's a shooter.

Anyway this lady says, that guy over there is really a nut. He seriously has some screws loose. He goes out in the afternoon and sits at this little picnic table. He'll shoot his gun one time. Then he'll sit there, look, write things down, then he'll shoot again and wait, and look, and write, over and over again. Then he'll go look at what he's shooting at. Then come back and do it again, over and over until about 5 o'clock. He'll do this sometimes two or three times a week. I really don't know what's wrong with him. Why doesn't he read a book? Or take a walk? Or just do SOMETHING? I kind of feel sorry for him, but honestly I'm kind of worried too. Who knows what somebody like that might decide to up and do?

 

[Charles]

Call resident ATF agent

 

[gambleone]

I'm inspired to relate this story by a recent thread or two. This happened a couple of years ago.

We know this lady who is now 90-some years old. She was the wife of a farmer and also a public school teacher. Her husband had died years before, and actually had quit farming several years before that. The farm land was leased out to other farmers. She still lives in the farm house which is on the corner of two country roads.

Across the road on one of the roads, someone had bought the corner lot and built a house there, maybe in the 1950s or there about. The house recently sold and an older-middle aged guy moved in. Turns out he's a shooter.

Anyway this lady says, that guy over there is really a nut. He seriously has some screws loose. He goes out in the afternoon and sits at this little picnic table. He'll shoot his gun one time. Then he'll sit there, look, write things down, then he'll shoot again and wait, and look, and write, over and over again. Then he'll go look at what he's shooting at. Then come back and do it again, over and over until about 5 o'clock. He'll do this sometimes two or three times a week. I really don't know what's wrong with him. Why doesn't he read a book? Or take a walk? Or just do SOMETHING? I kind of feel sorry for him, but honestly I'm kind of worried too. Who knows what somebody like that might decide to up and do?

I feel sorry for the poor old lady. Doesn't have a clue. Hilarious.

 

[dryhumor]

Maybe she needs to a analogy comparing load development and shooting to cursive writing. The more ya do it, the more you learn, the better you get.

 

[Bocephus]

I'm inspired to relate this story by a recent thread or two. This happened a couple of years ago.

We know this lady who is now 90-some years old. She was the wife of a farmer and also a public school teacher. Her husband had died years before, and actually had quit farming several years before that. The farm land was leased out to other farmers. She still lives in the farm house which is on the corner of two country roads.

Across the road on one of the roads, someone had bought the corner lot and built a house there, maybe in the 1950s or there about. The house recently sold and an older-middle aged guy moved in. Turns out he's a shooter.

Anyway this lady says, that guy over there is really a nut. He seriously has some screws loose. He goes out in the afternoon and sits at this little picnic table. He'll shoot his gun one time. Then he'll sit there, look, write things down, then he'll shoot again and wait, and look, and write, over and over again. Then he'll go look at what he's shooting at. Then come back and do it again, over and over until about 5 o'clock. He'll do this sometimes two or three times a week. I really don't know what's wrong with him. Why doesn't he read a book? Or take a walk? Or just do SOMETHING? I kind of feel sorry for him, but honestly I'm kind of worried too. Who knows what somebody like that might decide to up and do?

Sad times indeed when she had nothing else to worry about.
But I probably would have been concerned also. Might even have dropped by just to suggest thst the glare, wind and mirage would not be as bad if he would just wait until after 5pm to start busting caps.

 

[CJ6]

She's OLD.... Give the lady a break...Let's see what Y'alls mental capacity is at 90 +. Now the neighbor "could" just drop on over and have a talk with her himself......Being new he should've introduced himself when he moved in....

 

[Ggmac]

Im sure wasting ammo to someone that lived through the depression is just plain stupid . She probably has no idea why people get in cars and drive in circles or get paid to play football or any sport. Wasted time to her , especially if raised on a farm .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I bet hes one of those crazies that have like a thousand rounds stockpiled- a true menace.

 

[ELBRY]

at 84 i still go out as least 2 times a week, ssetup my table,chronograph, targets and check new reloads and fire 50 or more rounds various cal.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Well at least she knows the time, probably the day and can still count. Way ahead of the current president.

 

[STORM2]

She needs a telescope.

 

[1shot]

If she would have just made some lemonade, and taken it over to share, he would have probably let her send a few rounds down range herself and then they could have sat back and reminisced about the old and older days when they were through.

Missed opportunities.

I like your positive attitude.

 

[rayporter]

future red flag for sure.

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

" Who knows what somebody like that might decide to up and do? "

He might to use his considerable skill set to defend YOUR life and property when you need it most. Didja ever think of that, Old Woman?

In my mind that would be a really good friend to have.

 

[mike a]

She's OLD.... Give the lady a break...Let's see what Y'alls mental capacity is at 90 +. Now the neighbor "could" just drop on over and have a talk with her himself......Being new he should've introduced himself when he moved in....

Yeh, and the shooter is a dummy. Who goes back and forth to look at there target? Shotmarker!

 

[GetReal]

Sometime I sit at that picnic table myself, wondering if I'm nutz....

 

[joshb]

Yeh, and the shooter is a dummy. Who goes back and forth to look at there target? Shotmarker!

Nah! A 50 power scope is all ya need!

 

[urbanrifleman]

She woke.

 

[AccelR8]

The lady's mind is sharp. I guess what strikes me about the story is that it illustrates that many people, most people I think, are quick to judge others. If they see something they don't understand, rather than react with curiosity or even just a live-and-let-live attitude they immediately decide “the other” is not mentally right and possibly a threat.


Honestly I see it among shooters too. More than once I have heard the tactical shooter types-the ones that come to the range with the vests and helmets and drop holsters and three point slings-talk about the bullseye pistol shooters in the most disparaging of terms. Calling them stupid even. Usually when the bullseye guy wants to finish his string before they can go 25 yards down range and see if they hit their full size torso targets. I've heard them say the same things about High Power shooters. I've heard the 80 year old bullseye shooter with his custom Colt Government Model who shoots five rounds in thirty minutes say the tactical guys shouldn't be allowed at the club. I myself have been told by a shotgun shooter there's no reason I should “be allowed” to own “something like that” (AR15, National Match gun). Very recently I heard one shooter, age about 50 or 55, tell younger shooter whom he did not know “I could buy four of your rifles just with what I have in my optic alone.” Way to encourage the new shooter! Lastly, although I could go on, one more; a guy told me as he laughed “If I had to reload ammo to afford to shoot I'd have to seriously re-evaluate my life!” And the conversation was not about saving money, it was about accuracy. By the way he was shooting Tulammo.

Reminds me of lyrics from an obscure song:

There ain't a man alive today
Who doesn't want to have have the world in his hand
And everything to go his way
And abuse what he don't understand

 

[mousegunner]

I wonder if the old lady has a bunch of nice old guns that were her husband's just sitting in a box down in the basement. I'd tell I'd get rid of them for her and charge her a glass of lemonade.